Chalk-line holder.



J. D. EASTMAN.

n GHALK LINE HOLDER.

.APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1909. 94%892. Patented Feb.. 1, 1910;

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l J. D. EASTMAN.

r01mm; LINE HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1909.

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Patented Feb. 1, ww. Y

JAMES D. EASTIVIAN, F SPDKANE, WASHING-TON.

GIIALK-LINE HOLDER.

aliases.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES D. EAS'rMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington,have invented certain new and useful improvements in Chalk-Line Holders,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to chalk-line holders of that kind in which theline is wound on a reel inclosed in a casing containing powdered chalk,and it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts to behereinafter described and claimed.

It is the object of the present invention to provide in a device of thekind stated improved means for winding the line on the reel. and fordisconnecting1 the reel, so that the line may be readily unwound.

Another object is to provide improved means for removing excess chalkfrom the line as it is pulled out of the casing.

ln the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred, embodiment of theinvention is shown, Figure 1 is a face view of the holder. Fig. 2 is avertical section. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing1 the means forremoving the excess chalk from the line. Fig. l is an end view of thereel. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the reel. Fig.. 6 is an elevationof one end of the reel. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail of thecrank hereinafter referred to. Figs. 8 and 9 are face views ofmodifications.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 10 denotes a casing whichis circular in form, and is adapted to receive a suitable quantity ofpowdered chalk or other coating substance. The front wall of the casingconsists of a removable cover 11 which may be attached by a tight fit,or by threads.

The casing 10 contains a reel on which the line is wound, said reelcomprising a hub 12, and disks 13 and 14e, respectively, at the endsthereof. The disk 14 is adjacent to the cover 11, and from this disk thehub 12 is extended to an opening in the cover, said opening registeringwith the bore of the hub. In this opening is rotatably mounted a sleeve15 which extends into the bore of the hub. rllhe outer end of the sleeveis closed by a disk 16 overlapping the edge of the aforesaid opening, toprovide a tight closure and prevent escape of the chalk. From the innerface of the disk projects a stem 16 which Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 8, 1969.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910..

Serial No. 506,484.

extends through the sleeve and hub up to the disk 13, to which it isfastened by a screw 16h. The latter is` not tight, so as to permit freemovement between the sleeve and the hub.

To the outer face of the disk 16 is hinged at 17 a crank 18 having ahandle 19. When not in use, the crank may be folded against the face ofthe disk, with the handle extending through an aperture 20 therein, as fshown in F ig. 7. The crank is held in this position by a spring 21fastened to the inside of the sleeve 15, and pressing against thehandle. With the crank in folded position, the device may beconveniently carried. and the crank is out of the way, and therefore notliable to be broken off.

The sleeve 15 carries a pin 22 which is secured to the inside thereof inany suitable manner, and has at one end an oset portion 23 whichprojects from the inner end of the sleeve, parallel to the axis of thereel hub. On the reel hub is a spring tongue 24 which extends into thebore thereof, and has at its outer or free end a seat 25 to receive theoffset of the pin. The tongue may be formed by slitting the hub as shownin Fig. 6. The tongue is presented into the bore of the hub in such adirection that when the line is unwound, the reel runs loose, the tongueswinging back to let the offset pass. However, when the sleeve 15 isrotated by the crank 18 in the opposite direction, the offset engagesthe seat 25, and the reel is rotated in a direction to wind the linethereon. rl'he line passes out of the casing through an opening 26 madein the edge thereof. This opening is surrounded by an annular flange 27projecting outwardly from the edge of the casing, and forming acontainer in which a quantity of felt or other softpacking material,indicated at 29, is placed, and through which the line passes, and whichserves to wipe olf any excess chalk adhering thereto. The container isclosed by a cap 28 which screws on the iiange 27, the latter beingscrew-threaded for this purpose.

Un the inner side of the cap 28 is a short tube 30 which extends intothe container, and opens through the cap, and through which tube theline passes to the outsi e. The end of the tube is slightly iiared, andis adapted to be screwed against the felt to compress the saine aroundthe line. The

proper degree of compression-is obtained by screwing the cap down on theflange more or less.

In practice, the casing 10 is supplied with the desired quantity ofchalk or other coat'- ing substance, and the line, which has beenwoundon the reel, is threaded through the opening 26 and the tube 30,the cap 28 being screwed down on the flange 27 to properly compress thefelt around the line, by the engagement of the flared end of the tube 30therewith as described. The line is Withdrawn for luse by holding thecasing stationary, and pulling` on the line, or by holding thelinestationary, and pulling on the casing. As already described, thereel runs loose when the line is withdrawn from the casing, and to windthe line on the reel, the latter is rotated in the proper direction bymeans of the crank 18. When not in use, the Acrank will be folded asalready `described, and shown in Fig. 7

The disk 13 has openings 31 to permit the chalk to pass to the line onthe reel. The opening 26 and the bore of the tube 30 are slightly largerthan the line, in order that the chalk may not be brushed off in passingtherethrough.

The device is very simple in structure, and

Vcan be easily and cheaply manufactured,

and it eifectually serves the purpose for which it is designed.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modified form Aof casing which is constructed toform a plumbbob, so that a combined chalk-line holder and plumb-bob ishad. On the edge of the casing, opposite the point where the line iIpas'ses out, is a pointed weight. 32 which t gives the casing therequired weight to serve as a plumb-bob. If desired, the weight may beleft off, and a small point 33 substituted therefor, as shown in Fig. 9.

I claim:

1. A chalk-line holder comprising a casing passes, a containersurrounding said opening, a body of packing material in the containerthrough which the line passes, a closure for the container, a tubecarried by the closure through which tube the line passes, said tubebeing engageable with the packing material for compressing the samearound the line, and a reel in the casing on which the line is wound.

2. A chalk-line holder comprisinU a casing' having an opening in one ofits en( walls, a

and extending into the casing, a reel in thc casing having a hub mountedon the sleeve, a spring tongue projecting from the hub into the borethereof, and having at its free end a seat, a pin carried by the sleeveand extending parallel to the axis of the hub, said pin projecting intothe path of the spring tongue, and being engageable with its seat; whenthe sleeve is rotated in onel direction, and means for rotating thesleeve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES D. EASTMAN.

fitnesses d: H. E. SMITH, W. S. WILLIS. f fhaving an opening throughwhich the line sleeve rotatably mounted in said opening,-

